The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

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The news that these had thus been added to Christ soon moved other
islands also to desire our fathers. On one of these islands, within
fifteen days one hundred and sixty adults and five children forsook
the dark wilderness of infidelity for the light of the gospel. Among
them was one old woman one hundred and thirty years of age--blind,
deaf, incapable of motion; for, wherever she was carried, there she
remained like an unmoving stone. Afterward in other places there were
baptized five hundred adults and two infants. When they returned on
a second mission, after an interval of three months, eight hundred
and thirty-seven were baptized, and from the most of these their
concubines were taken away. Besides this, in other places many were
plunged into the same waters, the total number reaching three thousand
six hundred and eighty.

Residence of Dulac

The most ample fruit has resulted from the Christian teaching among
the people of Dulac, [43] given by the seven men of our Society. The
foundations of a boys' school have been laid. In it thirty are imbued
with good morals and solid virtues, and give their aid to Ours in
explaining the catechism to the more ignorant people and those of the
lower order, and that with happy results; for whenever Ours go where
these pupils have exerted their diligence, they find all the people
well prepared to receive baptism.

To the old Christians and some of the more intelligent adults familiar
sermons are delivered on the life of Christ and those of the saints,
and on the manner of profitably receiving communion, and notable
results are evident. On account of these pious exercises and the
uprightness of life shown by these converts, the Christian religion is
ordinarily held in such high esteem that few remain who do not desire
to be initiated into it by baptism. In Advent and at the feast of the
Nativity we baptized more than seven hundred persons. We have baptized
in all, from last year to the present date, two thousand and twenty,
or more.

To this residence are annexed, besides other charges, the care of two
great and populous districts, which give surest proof of their virtue
by clean morals and by obedience. We are informed by letters that,
at the feast of the Nativity, in one of them eight hundred infidels
pledged themselves to the Christian faith; and that the believers
do not yield to Espana in frequenting the sacraments of confession
and communion.

There was found in one little village an old man leading the life
practically of a hermit; and when our father asked him about his
manner of life, he answered so wisely that the father was greatly
surprised. Among other things he said that though his bodily life
was passed on earth, yet his soul lived in heaven. He had no dreams
at night except about the other life, and he was accustomed to see
the blessed surrounded with great splendor, and one among them who
excelled them all. And when the father gave him a picture of the Last
Judgment to look at, in which was expressed the glory of paradise,
he asked him if his dreams agreed with this picture of the blessed
life. The wonderful old man answered: "Should I see nothing but this,
my father? Much more! much more!" The father was amazed to find such
a treasure of spiritual riches laid up in this man; for he afterward
said that his meditation and the occupation of his mind would be of
nothing else than of Jesus and Mary, until he had exchanged this life
for the eternal one.

Two of Ours, happening to enter a wretched rustic hut, found a man
more than eighty years old lying upon some reeds. He was deprived
of all his senses and his whole body was so worn out that the skin
scarcely adhered to his bones--a living image of death. Our fathers
pitied the man, and prayed to God for him that He would not deny
His compassion to this most pitiable of men. Soon after, the dying
man revived, and with great joy received baptism. As soon as he had
received it he was again deprived of his senses, and, gently calling
on the names of Jesus and Mary, he rendered up his soul to God.

Information was brought that there was a man lying grievously ill in
the most distant part of the district. Although we were not a little
deterred from the journey by the darkness of night and the great
number of serpents, as well as by the necessity of crossing a river
full of crocodiles; yet we did not regard all these things as of so
much consequence as the value of a single soul redeemed by the blood
of Jesus Christ. One of the fathers, therefore, went thither, and with
a medicine healed the sick man in the name of Jesus. On the father's
return, something more extraordinary happened to him. He came upon
a sick woman, who, although she did not seem to be dangerously ill,
yet departed to the better life as soon as she had received baptism. As
two of Ours were making their way over a sandy soil at noon, under the
dreadful heat of the burning sun, being without any food or drink, they
laid this their affliction before the Lord God; and behold! suddenly,
at this most unusual time, there was a man sitting on the ground,
who showed himself most kind and courteous. He ungrudgingly offered
to the hungry and thirsty men fresh fruit from his basket. When they
accepted it readily, he not only took great pleasure in that, but
also urged them, with a certain strange earnestness, to feed upon
it as if it were their own. Strengthened with this little meal they
went on, which they could hardly have done otherwise, and offered
great thanks to God that He had come to their assistance in their
extremity. Afterward, when they had considered all the circumstances
of the fact, and of the place in which the man was found with the
fruit, and had reflected that no Indian was in the habit of going on
a journey alone in the heat of the day, and again that, although they
were unknown to him, he had shared the fruit with them so kindly and
generously, they came directly to the conclusion that he was an angel
of God. At least it was a proof of the singular providence of God;
and it is well worthy of belief, that God in this manner had been
willing to show His bounty to them, inasmuch as the said two fathers
had exercised their ministry with great spiritual fruit in that place
from which they had set out on that day.

Residence of Alangala

In this residence four priests and three brethren give their energy to
cultivating the vineyard of the Lord. They go afoot through the rivers,
the pools, and the marshes, the water often reaching to their navels,
and the sun burning above them. But since their labor is wrought
through the love of God, He, in His unmeasured kindness, never
deprives them of His solace in the utmost perils. They write that,
from the end of last year up to the present time, more than fourteen
hundred have received the sacred washing of regeneration. They give
diligent attention to the divine offices, which are celebrated in
this residence with greater magnificence than elsewhere, on account
of the convenience of three Indian chapels, which far surpass the
Spanish. They follow the practice of singing _Salve Regina_, in honor
of our Lady the Virgin; and, throughout Lent, of singing the psalm
_Miserere_ to accompany the discipline.

Several missions have been established in various places, with
manifold increase of baptisms and other spiritual fruits. I will give
an account of some. While a father was living in one little district,
an Indian, crippled in both hands and feet, made his way straight to
the father by boat, and that alone, to the astonishment of all--God
and his guardian angel doubtless impelling the boat. He begged the
father for baptism, and declared that the author of his request had
been a certain Spaniard who had told him that all those who did not
accept the Christian law would be carried off to hell.

The greatest results have been obtained from the schools, for the
pupils have each of them become teachers in the paternal homes of
all the domestics; and by the good example of their lives they incite
others to accept the true doctrine. A boy, a cantor in church, being
solicited by a Spaniard to perpetrate a foul deed, answered: "Sir,
I know well by what remedy you should drive away that temptation
of yours. Let us recite together a rosary in honor of the blessed
Virgin Mary, and instantly all these wicked thoughts will vanish in
smoke." Thus by the newly converted Christian he was instructed who
ought rightly to have been the teacher and master of others.

In the island Leita there were counted last year above five hundred
and twenty-nine thousand souls; and they have the instruction of our
priests only, who are six in number. By their hands the most holy
waters of baptism have, in the course of a year, in this and other
islands, been sprinkled upon at least ten thousand nine hundred
heads. And this, in brief, is the harvest of this vice-province.

* * * * *

It only remains that your Paternity should cast your eyes upon this
new and tiny plant, separated from Rome by so great an interval of
distance and situated in the most remote parts of the world, as it
has also obtained the last place in the government of the Society;
and that you should show to it all kindness and favor by sending to it
some laborers with these words from the eighteenth chapter of Isaiah:
_Ite, angeli veloces, ad gentem conuulsam et dilaceratam, ad populum
terribilem, post quem non est alius._ [44] Thus they may bring unto
these places of darkness some light by their preaching of the gospel,
and all may bend the knee before the true God, the maker of the world,
and adore and revere Him.

These treasures the India of the Philippines offers to your Paternity,
and it is confident that by the divine grace and your blessing it
will offer greater ones. Finally, may our Lord protect and preserve
the health of your Paternity for many years, to the advantage of the
whole church and the increase of the Society. Your Paternity's son
and servant in Christ,

_Francisco Vaez_

Letter from Diego Garcia to Felipe III

Sire:

In the year ninety-nine I came to these islands, by order of my
general, to console and visit in his name the fathers and brothers
of our Society who reside in them. We were much pleased to see how
much has been done for the service of our Lord and your Majesty,
and the good of the Indians.

The Society of Jesus has in its charge a good part of the islands
called the Pintados, where the holy gospel had never been preached. In
the period of four years, eleven or twelve thousand have been converted
and baptized. Matters are now in such course that in a short time,
with the divine grace, there will be more than forty thousand
baptized. As the priests who are occupied in this conversion are
not more than thirteen, [45] the results, if there were many more,
would also have been incomparably greater. For the honor of God, I
beseech your Majesty to be pleased to command that workers be sent,
as it is a great shame that, when the season for the harvest is upon
us, it should be lost through lack of reapers.

_[In the margin of the preceding paragraph_:

Already provided for."]

The Indians of these Pintados Islands have by nature good dispositions
and abilities. I have learned by experience with some few, who were
brought up in our houses, from the time when they were children,
that if there were several seminaries where the education of the youth
might be carefully attended to, taking them out of the power of their
heathen parents, while still children (for the latter would give them
up willingly), inside of a few years there would be a very prosperous
Christian community in the sight of God and men. In my opinion there
is no more effective means to establish the faith firmly among these
barbarians than this.

Your Majesty would do a great service to our Lord by ordering that a
seminary for these people should be established. I believe that the
money which has been collected from the fourths, where there is no
instruction, might well be employed in this work. In all conscience,
it ought to be spent for the spiritual good of those Indians, as
your Majesty directed by your royal decree. And none will do so well
as this, which is the seed for all the rest. I have learned that,
in the royal buildings at Manila, fourteen or fifteen thousand pesos
are spent which are obtained from these fourths. From these and some
other funds which lie in the treasury and are every day accumulating,
several of the said seminaries might be well established.

[_In the margin of the preceding paragraph:_ "Have the papers brought
which relate to this."]

It is a great disadvantage for conversions to our holy faith, and
for the civilization of these same Indians, for them to be dispersed
like wild beasts among the mountains. It would be a great relief for
the burden on the royal conscience of your Majesty, if your ministers
should execute the order given by your Majesty to reduce this people
to settlements. As they now are, the labor of the ministers is
immense, and the results are small; and they are unable to establish
Christianity and civilization as they should. [46]

[_In the margin of the previous paragraph:_ "Write to Don Pedro
de Acuna that with the help of these fathers, with all possible
gentleness, and at the least cost, he shall see to it that the Indians
be thus reduced; and if there be any great difficulty or disadvantage
therein, let him advise us of it."]

The Indians have many grievances against the corregidors and
encomenderos. With fewer or none of these judges there would be more
justice; and if the encomenderos or collectors of tributes were not
present in villages, the Indians would be better guarded.

[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Let Don Pedro de Acuna send
information."]

The students in this country receive no reward for their studies,
and accordingly tire of them and leave them at the most important
time. It would be well if your Majesty would give permission for us
to graduate them from our courses of study, which are the first that
were established in this country. In this way the sons of the country
will be encouraged; and the cost of bringing masters from Espana,
and maintaining them with a perpetual salary, will be saved to the
royal treasury. In great part there will also be saved the expense of
bringing ministers from Europe, since they will be trained in this
country--where they are used to the climate, and know the language
of the natives. Although at present we cannot found so organized
a university, at least they can be graduated in arts and theology,
which are the sciences lectured upon in our Society.

[_In the margin of this paragraph_: "Provided for in the duplicate
of this."]

There are many persons in these islands who have toiled in the service
of your Majesty, and your Majesty would direct his favor well if
he extended it, among others, to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor
of this royal Audiencia, who is a man of good parts and fitted for
any matter pertaining to the service of your Majesty. Likewise the
licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera, auditor of this royal Audiencia,
has done a great deal in saving a galleon in which was carried the
entire wealth and support of this country. Captain Hernando de Avila,
treasurer of the royal exchequer of your Majesty, is filling that
office as a faithful servant. Captain Christoval Ascueta Menchaca
has served many years and is worthy of reward.

[_In the margin_: "On the memorandum of the exchequer."]

Throughout our entire order, especial care is taken in all matters
respecting your Majesty, and we shall still continue this, beseeching
our Lord to protect your Majesty many years for us, as He may see
is fitting for the welfare of His church and of the kingdoms of your
Majesty. Manila, July 8, 1601.

_Diego Garcia_, visitor of the Society of Jesus.

Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III

Sire:

I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for your
Majesty in the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas
Islands, say that, as it has been heard in the islands that your
Majesty has done them the favor of appointing Don Pedro de Acuna as
governor and captain-general, and president of the royal Audiencia,
this has greatly pleased and satisfied them, on account of the good
reputation which he has of being an excellent soldier, and not at all
self-seeking. Therefore his arrival is desired, because it is very
necessary for all and [_illegible in MS._] for the matters of war,
in which many mistakes have been made up to the present time--which I
will not mention, however, since the remedy is so soon expected with
the arrival of Don Pedro de Acuna. If this had occurred a year ago,
it is certain that a great misfortune would have been avoided which
these islands suffered, and which was as follows.

On the sixteenth of October of the year 1600 just past, there entered
the little bay of Aluay, which is in these islands, near the entrance
to them, two vessels, which, from some people who went on board of
them, were found to belong to strangers. After having robbed some
vessels they came toward the port of Cavite, which is two leguas from
this city, and is the place where vessels anchor. It was decided that
some ships should be fitted out in the aforesaid port--namely, a ship
built in the island of Cebu, called the "Sant Diego," which belonged
to some private persons; a galicabra called the "Sant Bartolome," which
belongs to your Majesty; a galley of twenty benches, also belonging to
your Majesty; and a pataje belonging to some Portuguese from Malaca,
who were in the port. [47]

It seemed to Don Francisco Tello, governor and captain-general of
these islands and president of the royal Audiencia, and to the doctor
Antonio de Morga and the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de Almacan,
auditors therein, that it would be well, in order that the ships
might be got ready in the best way and as quickly as possible, for
the aforesaid Dr. Antonio de Morga to go to Cavite for that purpose,
and so he went there early in November. Later, desiring to go as
commander-in-chief of the expedition, he asked for that office from
the president, who proposed it to the licentiate Cristoval Tellez de
Almacan, desiring him to secure it through a session of the Audiencia,
but the latter opposed it. I afterward spoke to him of the lack there
was of auditors, and of some other matters, and suggested to him to
write about this and let each one give his opinion. Yet, although
the said president agreed to do so, he did not, but secretly gave
the title of commander-in-chief of the fleet to the said Dr. Antonio
de Morga, although your Majesty had here Don Juan Ronquillo, who was
receiving a salary as commander-in-chief of the galleys, and who was
a veteran soldier, together with many others who have well approved
themselves on the occasions for service which have arisen. The doctor,
fearing that the president might change his mind, made haste to leave
the port; and, although he could have had the galeota fitted out,
he did not do so. It was understood that the reason given was that
Don Juan Ronquillo said that it should not go out because he was
commander-in-chief of the galleys for your Majesty, and that the
right to go in the galeota could not be taken from him. Likewise,
although he could have taken the pataje from Malaca, for which he had
received some supplies and artillery at your Majesty's expense, he did
not wait for it; and some say that friends of the doctor said that he
ought not to take the pataje, because the Portuguese on it said that
he should not, although the victory would have been to their account.

So on the twelfth of December he set out from Cavite for the port of
Mariveles, which is seven leguas distant, and there [_MS. illegible_]
the flagship which was the ship "Sant Diego;" and on the following day,
the thirteenth, at eleven or twelve o'clock of a very black night,
he left the port of Mariveles, without informing his admiral's ship,
which was the galicabra, and in which sailed as admiral the captain
Juan de Alcega. However, after the flagship had been gone more than an
hour, the other ship saw it by accident, and went after it. At daybreak
our flagship recognized that of the enemy, which, together with its
admiral's ship, was between the islands of Anacebu and Fortun. On
account of the roughness of the weather, they were unable to unite;
so the enemy's flagship kept up into the wind to wait for ours,
which gained the windward of it and closed with it under full sail,
while the admiral's ship of the enemy took to flight.

Meanwhile the two flagships were fighting. For each man of the enemy
our ship had four Spaniards--not to mention the Indians and negroes,
who helped very much--and a great deal of artillery, powder, and
munitions and instruments of war; and they destroyed the enemy to
such an extent that as many of our men as wished to do so entered it
and took the banners and standards and other things belonging to the
enemy, without having anyone appear on it, for they had retired to the
bow. At this point our admiral's ship arrived, and with its artillery
and arquebuses did some damage to the Dutch flagship; and our men on
it, especially Alonso de Mansilla, the sargento-mayor's adjutant,
called aloud, telling the others not to do them any damage, but to
pass on to the admiral's ship of the enemy, because their flagship
had already surrendered to your Majesty; whereupon our admiral's ship
went in pursuit of the Dutch admiral's ship, which was more than two
leguas away. The two flagships remained thus over three hours more,
besides the two during which they had already been together. The enemy
did not fight, and on our ship there was no one to order or govern,
or command anyone to pass to the other ship. Then it was said that
our ship was going to the bottom, and so loudly that the enemy heard
it and took courage again. In our ship there was no one to command
what was to be done, so that it did go to the bottom. There escaped on
mattresses and on shields, and by swimming, Dr. Antonio de Morga and
[_illegible in MS._] other persons; but more than as many Spaniards
again were lost, and more than a hundred Indians and negroes. The best
artillery that there was in these islands, which had been taken from
the fortresses for this purpose, was also utterly lost, besides all
that the vessel carried, which was a great deal. That same day the
admiral, Juan de Alcega, captured the Dutch admiral's ship, and sent
its men to this city.

Then it was that they were found to be Dutch. They called themselves
vassals of Mauricio, Prince of Orange and Count of Nasau; and they
bore a patent, a copy of which is subjoined. The president thought
it well to send after the enemy's flagship, and for this purpose
he ordered that our admiral's ship should go, with Admiral Juan
de Alcega as commander; and that the Dutch vessel should go as
admiral's ship, with Captain Juan Tello de Aguirre as admiral, who
had had the position over the infantry in our admiral's ship. They
went where they were ordered, but did not find a trace of the Dutch
flagship. The commander of this was Oliver van Noordt, and in command
of the admiral's ship was Lanverto Viesman. They were heretics who,
with other ships, had set out from the port of Nostradamus [_i.e._,
Amsterdam] in Olanda, on the twelfth of September in the year 98;
and had come by the Canaria Islands and by Brasil, through the Strait
of Magallanes and along the coast of Chile, to these islands.

As I thought from the beginning, as soon as I knew of the loss of
our flagship, that they would try to conceal it from your Majesty,
I made an investigation about it, a copy of which is subjoined. [48]
From this it can be seen who was to blame; and whatever is written to
your Majesty contrary to this, or to what is contained in the report on
the investigation, is not to be relied upon. The president has made an
investigation in this matter, trying to shield himself and the guilty
ones; and it has been carried on in such a way that it is known that
no witness has dared to tell the truth. On this account I presented a
petition to the president, asking that he refrain from trying the case,
because the witnesses did not speak freely for fear of the power of the
guilty, and because I intended to ask your Majesty to appoint a judge
who could try the case, since the president could not do so. I also
asked that a copy might be given to me of all that had been written
about this matter, in order that I might give it to your Majesty and
ask for what might be proper. This was denied me by the president,
and I appealed to the royal Audiencia, but for lack of auditors,
of whom there was only the licentiate Tellez de Almazan, no action
was taken. If a judge were to be appointed, there would be none who
would dare to declare against the will of the guilty. Although the
licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera Maldonado has come since, it has
been impossible for me to take up this matter, because I have been
ill now for more than forty days. So I beg your Majesty to order
that this report be examined, and that whatever is proper may be
done. Our Lord keep the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty,
with a greater increase of realms and power. From Manila, which is
in the Philipinas Islands, on the sixteenth of July of the year 1601.

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